The Man Who Loved Islands - Book Review

The wonders of social media are such, that you can become friends with people you've never met. Maybe that's too bold to call David Ross a friend, perhaps an enjoyable online presence. Yes David Ross is an enjoyable online presence.

Mine and David's lives became intertwined through a twitter account by the name of @bythemins and David's insistence that key events in football matches tended to happen in the 67th minute. David was adamant on this fact, he probably still is now. Anyways I digress, this little twitter account now strides across the world wide web like a behemoth (bytheminute.co if you're interested!) and mine and David's paths don't cross as much as I would like.  However. When David has the time to share his thoughts for this website, man I've got to tell you something. The page comes alive. I don't know how he does it. David Ross has a gift. The man is an excellent story-teller. To tell you the truth I'm jealous.

In David's previous two books, The Last Days of Disco and The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas he transported me back to 1980s Kilmarnock.  I've never been to Kilmarnock, nor do I want to go. But David's writing has always made me feel like I lived there.
David's story-telling has a charm.  It warms the heart. You turn the page or those of you with a kindle, press the screen, with a smile on the face eagerly anticipating the next page.

I'm not going to tell you much about The Man Who Loved Islands, because if you've read the first two books of the trilogy, then you must surely be anticipating this third one.  All I'm going to say is it's as good as you hoped, if not better.  For those of you, who have not read one of David's books. Please go and buy them, I'd even say don't wait for a 3 for 2 deal. They're that good!
I'll end this book review, well it was meant to be a book review, but it feel's like an ode to David by simply saying, I cannot wait for what David Ross decides to do next.  I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that.

Book Review - The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas by David F. Ross

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy from an author I first knew via @bythemins and for me it's even better than his The Last Day's of Disco.

Now I'm going to make you acutely aware that I'm neither Scottish nor was around going to gigs and disco-ing in the early 1980s.  In fact as a 7 year old when Boy George came on Top of the Pops singing "Karma Chameleon" I asked my parents if he was a man or a lady, I'm not sure they gave me an answer.

However David is such an excellent wordsmith and story-teller that I was transported into an era and place I have no knowledge of, I was there living it.  In fact as David likes to see me as some kind of Cockney barrow boy (I'm actually from Essex!) I thought I may struggle with the dialect in the book....people south of the border don't panic, it's easy to pick up and understand, even for us stupid southerners!

The title says it all.  I won't give too much away, but the Vespas get to the very top of the pop world and then drop away. Pretty much a rise and fall. Oh there you go. Spoiler.

Obviously David goes into more detail than that, and some of the character's despite having some peculiar habits are all very believable.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and cannot wait for the 3rd instalment.

David is such an excellent writer, that I'm prepared to let his awful choice of football team to support pass without comment.

Keep up the good work!

Book Review ... The Last Days of Disco by David F. Ross

Through working with @bytheminsport, I've got to know the author and I didn't realise he was such a talented wordsmith!

Let's make two things clear, I'm neither Scottish or grew up in the era the book is set.  However David's excellent story telling and use of characters made me feel that I knew all the protagonists involved.

I had already had an eye-opener to the Scottish language when reading Irvine Welsh's novels, but that was a long time ago.  Being as David see's me as a "Danny Dyer" kind of character, I was steeling myself for being baffled by the language in the book.  However through the story, it's easy to read and understand as a dumb cockney!

There are genuine laugh out loud moments in the book, which epitomise the author's sense of humour.  Conversely there are also heartfelt moments in the book, especially the letters from the Falklands are beautifully written, and capture the needlessness of that war.

David also uses his vast knowledge of music to interweave some cracking tunes into the storyline, and as being a budding DJ's helper in my teens, the disco moments in the book, took me right back to those times.  The incessant need to get the crowd dancing battling with the want to play music you liked!

This book comes highly recommended, I was captivated throughout, and couldn't wait to turn the page.

Well done David!